Local Cross-Cultural Events
September 2026
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7:00 PM -
Stage: Topdog/Underdog
7:00 PM -
Film: Ristretto Shorts Night
7:30 PM -
Book Talk: Fallen for France
* Upcoming Events *
Wednesday, September 30
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Film: Ristretto Shorts Night Join us for a captivating night with an exciting selection of shorts. We are thrilled to present a special showcase of shorts finalists for the prestigious Ristretto Shorts Awards. Immerse yourself in the magic of Italian storytelling as we screen a carefully curated lineup of captivating short films. These finalists for the Ristretto Shorts Awards have been selected for their exceptional quality, creativity, and ability to convey profound narratives in a limited timeframe.
Digital Gym Cinema |
| 7:30 PM | Book Talk: Fallen for France An exquisite Arabian mare. A small boy leaving home. A young woman in France fighting to survive. The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Ride of Her Life braids a sweeping novel of love, war, empire, and the power of kindness in a world descending into darkness. Beddou is six years old when he is sent off to apprentice far from his High Atlas village in Morocco. His mother gives him six amber beads to help him find his way home. That same month, a magnificent filly is born in Fes, in the splendor of the Sultan's palace. For a brief, golden time, the mare belongs to the boy. But Beddou's heart is broken when a soldier steals his horse and disappears into France just as the Great War roars to a start. Finding her seems impossible, but he vows to try. Estelle, a young woman in France, finds a distressed Arabian mare wandering alone in the meadow behind her house. She is determined to look after this radiant creature just as tenderly as she cares for her vulnerable younger brother. But soon her world is torn apart, and she loses both the horse and her brother. She will spend the rest of the war searching for both. Thomas is an Englishman hardened by his experience as a wartime veterinarian in France. He finds the mare and promises to protect her—and the woman who once loved her—but he doubts his own ability to keep anyone safe. As the pathways of the unforgettable mare and the boy's desperate search intertwine, the separate strands of these strangers' journeys converge, propelling them to make momentous choices that will change the course of their lives. Spanning Morocco and France in the shadow of World War I, Fallen for France follows unforgettable characters whose lives are bound by a magnificent horse and a string of amber beads.
Warwick's |
Thursday, October 1
| 8:30 AM | Talk: India's Platform Economy Join us for a conversation unpacking India's new Code on Social Security, 2020, its impact on gig and platform work, and what this landmark policy means in practice. The new framework took effect in November 2025, formally extending labor protections to gig and platform workers for the first time. Key changes include Aadhaar-linked IDs, portable benefits, and mandatory aggregator contributions to a social security fund. The discussion will examine the policy’s implications for India’s rapidly growing gig economy: Can meaningful social protection be provided without undermining platform flexibility? Will the cost of compliance affect the sector’s ability to scale, and ultimately, who will bear that cost? Arti Ahuja, former Union labor secretary when the code was proposed, will offer an inside perspective on how the policy took shape, while Prajna Khanna will bring an investor’s perspective on India’s gig economy and its evolving policy landscape. The discussion will be moderated by professor Achyuta Adhvaryu from the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy.
Online |
| 11:00 AM | Book Talk: Mint Tea at the Kasbah “Stories are the communal currency of humanity.” — Tahir Shah Step into Morocco without leaving Southern California for a one-of-a-kind literary gathering that celebrates the rich culture, history, landscapes, and stories that inspire great books. Over a cup of iced Moroccan mint tea and a delectable pastry, join New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Letts, whose captivating new historical novel "Fallen for France" transports readers from the elegance of Europe to the rugged beauty of Morocco, and Moroccan-born author and chef Kitty Morse, whose memoir "Mint Tea & Minarets" offers a deeply personal portrait of life, family, and tradition in Morocco and France. Hosted at Kitty’s charming Vista home—a private residence inspired by a traditional Moroccan riad—this intimate salon invites guests to immerse themselves in the sights, stories, and flavors of Morocco. Over Moroccan mint tea and cookies, Kitty will share memories of her upbringing in Morocco and discuss the cultural and historical connections that resonate throughout Elizabeth’s novel. Elizabeth will then discuss the inspiration behind Fallen for France, the remarkable true stories that informed her research, and the enduring relationship between horses, history, and human resilience. Whether you are drawn to historical fiction, memoir, horses, world cultures, culinary traditions, or simply the joy of discovering remarkable stories, this intimate literary salon offers a rare opportunity to experience Morocco through the eyes of two extraordinary authors. Through conversation, storytelling, and audience Q&A, guests will explore the people, history, landscapes, and traditions that inspire both books while enjoying the warmth and hospitality for which Morocco is renowned. Space is limited for this exclusive literary salon, creating a rare opportunity to engage with both authors in a uniquely atmospheric setting that feels worlds away from everyday life.
Vista |
| 3:00 PM | Film: 2026 Sundance Short Film Tour The 2026 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour provides a curated glimpse into the Festival’s selections, highlighting the depth of narrative possibilities explored in the short film format. The tour invites audiences across the world to experience a collection of resonant, provocative, tender, and human-centered fiction, nonfiction, and animated shorts that showcase truly dynamic independent storytelling and offers a mix of stories that highlight bold perspectives and next-gen storytellers.
Digital Gym Cinema |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Italian Film Festival: Napoli New York 1949. Naples lies in ruins after the devastation of WWII. Young Carmine and Celestina try to survive as best they can. One night, the pair find themselves caught on a ship as it is departing, leaving them to New York, and needing to dodge the attention of the vessel’s captain. Eventually reaching the unknown metropolis, Carmine and Celestina must quickly find a way to adapt to their new surroundings, and set out to find Celestina’s older sister who emigrated years earlier... Based on a rediscovered screenplay by maestro Federico Fellini and Tullio Pinelli, written together 80 years ago as young aspiring filmmakers long before the two collaborated on La Strada and La dolce vita, this is a compelling and hopeful coming-of-age story about the duality of dreams and disillusionment, the search for identity and the pursuit of a better life.
In Italian with English subtitles.
A special introduction and post-screening Q&A with Professor Emeritus Pasquale Verdicchio (UC San Diego).
Museum of Photographic Arts |
Friday, October 2
| 4:00 PM | Oktoberfest in El Cajon Enjoy German food such as bratwurst, ox-on-the-spit, potato pancakes, sauerkraut, red cabbage, potato salad, salted pretzels, and a variety of European pastries. Let a great selection of German beers and liquors, water and soft drinks, quench your thirst while you watch and participate in traditional folk dancing, choir recitals, drama routines, stein-holding competitions, and interactive musical entertainment. Games, contests and prizes, a Kid Zone and a variety of shopping booths line the patio for additional all-ages fun.
El Cajon |
| La Mesa Oktoberfest This three-day Oktoberfest presents Bavarian traditions along with German and international foods, biergartens, games and family activities.
La Mesa Downtown Village |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Italian Film Festival: Per Te Based on a true story. Eleven-year-old Mattia daily experiences the illness of his father, who, in his early forties, is slowly beginning to lose pieces of his memory. But just as the world begins to fade, he chooses to stay close to what truly matters, strengthened also by the love of his wife Michela. Together with his son, they embark on a journey of shared daily life, sudden laughter, and silences that speak. A story that celebrates the power of love beyond time and memory.
In Italian with English subtitles.
A special post-screening Q&A with Lena Huang of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Museum of Photographic Arts |
Saturday, October 3
| 9:00 AM | Kinusaiga Workshop Discover the Japanese art of Kinusaiga, a beautiful fabric technique that transforms colorful scraps of cloth into a stunning work of art—all without a needle or thread. In this 3‑hour, beginner‑friendly workshop, you’ll explore color and texture as you design your own decorative fabric mosaic. You’ll be guided step‑by‑step through sketching your picture and then using a simple method of tucking fabric into grooves to bring your design to life, one vibrant piece at a time.
Kinusaiga is wonderfully relaxing and surprisingly addictive—a chance to slow down, get creative, and enjoy the deeply satisfying process of making something by hand. All materials are provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own fabric scraps (even tiny ones)—including cherished pieces of clothing or meaningful textiles you’d like to repurpose into your artwork. Each student will create an 8×8” project to take home.
San Diego Craft Collective |
| 10:00 AM | La Mesa Oktoberfest La Mesa Oktoberfest
This three-day Oktoberfest presents Bavarian traditions along with German and international foods, biergartens, games and family activities.
La Mesa Downtown Village |
| 11:00 AM | Mid Autumn Moon Festival Join us for a free, full-day Mid-Autumn Moon Festival celebrating culture, community, family, and the traditions that bring us together! Presented in collaboration with the Asian American Dance Festival, this year's celebration brings an exciting mix of traditional and contemporary cultural experiences to Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park. Spend the day enjoying live performances, hands-on activities, family games, cultural traditions, environmental activities, and plenty of opportunities to participate—not just watch!
Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park |
| Chanoyu Tea Ceremony Demonstrations Urasenke will serve tea and Japanese sweets.
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum |
| NOON | Oktoberfest in El Cajon Enjoy German food such as bratwurst, ox-on-the-spit, potato pancakes, sauerkraut, red cabbage, potato salad, salted pretzels, and a variety of European pastries. Let a great selection of German beers and liquors, water and soft drinks, quench your thirst while you watch and participate in traditional folk dancing, choir recitals, drama routines, stein-holding competitions, and interactive musical entertainment. Games, contests and prizes, a Kid Zone and a variety of shopping booths line the patio for additional all-ages fun.
El Cajon |
| 2:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Dance: Balik Tanaw PASACAT Philippine Performing Arts Company presents live dance, music, and song drawing on Philippine traditions and paying tribute to the Indigenous cultures of the Philippines through traditional and contemporary interpretation.
Joan B. Kroc Theatre |
| 3:00 PM | San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival The San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival, which debuted in 2024 with nearly $400,000 in seed money from Qualcomm co-founder Irwin M. Jacobs, will return in expanded form this fall for its third year at multiple venues on both sides of the border. The event will grow from three days in 2024 and 2025 to four days this year. Free concerts will take place in downtown Tijuana and downtown San Diego, along with a paid concert at California Center for the Arts, Escondido, for which tickets go on sale May 30 at sdtjjazz.org. This year’s roster includes drum dynamo and five-time Grammy Award-winner Brian Blade with his genre-blurring group, The Fellowship Band, and Panamanian-bred piano great Danilo Pérez, who is a three-time Grammy-winner. Blade and Pérez were both longtime members of the late saxophone legend Wayne Shorter’s quartet. Pérez, who heads the Global Jazz Institute at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, will perform here with the SDSU Jazz Ensembles and the Ensenada-based La Covacha Big Band. Also set to appear is 2022 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition-winner Lucia, a native of Veracruz. Lucia performed here at the 2025 festival with her jazz band. She is returning with a four-man son jarocho group that features her father, Ramón Gutiérrez, a keen musical improviser and master of the four-stringed requinto. In addition, the festival will present San Diego and Tijuana performances by the seven-piece Mingus Dynasty, which features tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, pianist Helen Sung and Russian-born bassist Boris Kozlov. The band pays tribute to the music of modern jazz pioneer Charles Mingus and will perform some pieces from his classic 1957 album, “Tijuana Moods.” Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and UC San Diego music professor Anthony Davis is a lifelong Mingus fan. He has agreed to write a new piece for Mingus Dynasty to play at the festival, which is now seeking underwriting for what will be a world premiere if funding is found.
California Center for the Arts |
| Diwali Celebration Celebrate Diwali - The Festival of Lights! Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Join us for a fun-filled celebration with cultural and musical performances, Henna tattoos, and arts & crafts, including a lotus flower and wall hanging activity! Let’s light up the celebration with joy, culture, music, creativity, and togetherness!
North University Community Library |
| 4:00 PM | Music: Fête with Rana Mansour Persian Cultural Center, in collaboration with the San Diego Museum of Art, presents: Mehregan Fall Fête Featuring Rana Mansour. Meet & Greet session with artists and access to the SDMA, including the Iran Art Gallery, at 4 PM. The concert starts at 5 PM
Museum Of Art San Diego |
| 7:00 PM | Italian Film Festival: La vita da grandi (Siblings) Irene is living her life in Rome when her mother asks her to return for a few days to Rimini—the city where she was born and from where she once ran away—to take care of her older autistic brother, Omar. Once they are together, Irene discovers that Omar has very clear ideas about his future: he has no intention of living with her once their parents are gone and is determined to make his dreams come true. He wants to get married, have three children—because three is the perfect number—and become a famous rap singer. But for any of that to happen, Omar must first learn to live independently.
In Italian with English subtitles.
Museum of Photographic Arts |
| Dance: Balik Tanaw PASACAT Philippine Performing Arts Company presents live dance, music, and song drawing on Philippine traditions and paying tribute to the Indigenous cultures of the Philippines through traditional and contemporary interpretation.
Joan B. Kroc Theatre |
| 8:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Music: Julieta Venegas Julieta Venegas Percevault is a Mexican singer-songwriter. She specializes in Spanish indie pop rock and embarked on her musical journey by joining several bands, including the Mexican ska band Tijuana No!.
Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre |
Sunday, October 4
| 10:00 AM | Oishii Japanese Food & Sake Fest Spend the afternoon tasting your way through the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum at the Oishii Japanese Food & Sake Fest! From savory street food and handcrafted sweets to refreshing beverages and premium sake, every stop offers something new to enjoy. Your Oishii Festival Passport unlocks tastings from participating food and beverage vendors, making it easy to explore a variety of authentic Japanese flavors while strolling through the garden’s peaceful paths and scenic landscapes. Whether you’re a devoted foodie, a sake enthusiast, or simply looking for a unique day out with friends and family, Oishii is a celebration of Japan’s rich culinary traditions in the heart of Balboa Park.
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum |
| 11:30 AM | Italian Film Festival: Gioia Mia (Sweetheart) Nico, a lively and impertinent child raised in a secular family in a modern and technological world, is forced to spend the summer in Sicily, hosted by an elderly aunt, a religious and grumpy woman who lives alone in an ancient building steeped in legends, without Wi-Fi. The clash between modernity and the past, between reason and religion, between speed and slowness, marks the beginning of their stormy relationship. Yet, little by little, a deep bond develops that neither of them knew they needed.
In Italian with English subtitles.
A special post-screening panel with Little Fish Comic Book Studio.
Museum of Photographic Arts |
| NOON | Oktoberfest in El Cajon Enjoy German food such as bratwurst, ox-on-the-spit, potato pancakes, sauerkraut, red cabbage, potato salad, salted pretzels, and a variety of European pastries. Let a great selection of German beers and liquors, water and soft drinks, quench your thirst while you watch and participate in traditional folk dancing, choir recitals, drama routines, stein-holding competitions, and interactive musical entertainment. Games, contests and prizes, a Kid Zone and a variety of shopping booths line the patio for additional all-ages fun.
El Cajon |
| La Mesa Oktoberfest This three-day Oktoberfest presents Bavarian traditions along with German and international foods, biergartens, games and family activities.
La Mesa Downtown Village |
| 1:00 PM | Food: Okonomiyaki Workshop Escape to the enchanting streets of Japan as you learn how easy it is to make this iconic street food. The word "okonomiyaki" is derived from "okonomi" meaning "as you like" and "yaki" meaning "grilled. It's commonly referred to as being a Japanese pancake. Accurate to its name, okonomiyaki can be served with a variety of toppings. This class is perfect for anyone who enjoys Asian flavors and wants to learn more about how to recreate these flavors and techniques at home! In this entertaining, hands-on class, you will be guided step-by-step in creating the perfect batter that holds everything together. As you create your vegetarian base consisting of cabbage and scallions you will also have the option of topping your artfully crafted Okonomiyaki with shrimp or bacon.
Duck Foot Brewing |
| 2:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| 4:00 PM | Food: Mexico in a Bottle Mexico in a Bottle Returns to San Diego! Mezcal. Cultura. Herencia. Join us Sunday, October 4th at Bread & Salt Gallery for an afternoon devoted to the great spirits of Mexico. Sip your way through agave spirits while hearing the stories behind them — the producers, the process, the land. You'll also find Mexican whiskey, rum, gin, liqueurs, and more waiting to be discovered. Local restaurants bring the flavor to match, serving up bites paired with cocktails, while art and live music fill the room around you. Because this isn't just about what's in the glass. Every bottle holds a piece of Mexican culture — a living link to history, tradition, food, art, and music. Life and death, distilled. That's what we're here to honor at Mexico in a Bottle.
Bread & Salt Gallery |
| 6:30 PM | Music: Poéticas del Arrabal The Camarada Tango Quartet joins singers Gabriela Bojórquez and Martín de León for a program exploring Argentine tango through the music of Astor Piazzolla and arrangements by Andrés Martín, combining chamber music, opera and tango.
San Diego Museum of Art |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
Tuesday, October 6
| 6:00 PM | Book Talk: The Serviceberry This three-week community book club discusses Robin Wall Kimmerer's The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, exploring relationships with the natural world, extraction, reciprocity, and Indigenous perspectives on giving and receiving.
WorldBeat Cultural Center |
| 6:30 PM | Talk: Love, Murder and Taxi Dancers in the Stingaree District Taxi Dancer reveals the hidden world of Depression-era Filipino taxi dance halls, weaving a forbidden interracial romance with a high-stakes murder mystery to explore race, desire, survival, and the Filipino American experience in 1930s California. In response to Depression-era California laws that criminalized interracial marriage, Filipinos established taxi dance halls where they could mingle with American women. Men buy 10-cent tickets for one song, hence taxi, since the women are rented like cabs. When Filipino farmworker Eli and white taxi dancer Lucinda fall in love, they hope to move to Washington State, where they can legally wed. Their plans are derailed when Eli is arrested for murder. As Lucinda fights to exonerate Eli, she uncovers a murder conspiracy orchestrated by a rival dance hall owner. What abhorrent secrets concealed by the conspirators will be revealed at the capital punishment trial?
Central Library |
| Book Talk: Beyond the Verdict “Family life is too intimate to be preserved by the spirit of justice. It can be sustained by a spirit of love which goes beyond justice.” —Reinhold Niebuhr And speaking of justice, Adventures by the Book® invites you to meet two former attorneys turned bestselling writers, Jacqueline Friedland and Rosa Kwon Easton, for an intimate evening inspired by their respective novels Breathing Under Water and Red Seal.
Jacqueline and Rosa will share the complexities of family dynamics and human connection as they immerse us in powerful stories about sacrifice, displacement, and endurance. The evening also marks the official publication day of Rosa’s Red Seal, giving us the special opportunity to celebrate its release together!
Your Adventure includes an engaging author conversation, audience Q&A, book signing, and the opportunity to purchase copies of Breathing Under Water and Red Seal for personalized signatures. Join us as we talk about the complexities of family, friendship, and the power of unity in times of hardship.
Coronado Public Library |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| 8:00 PM | Music: Salin Drummer, producer, and composer Salin describes her music as “Afro Isan Soul,” a style inspired by the folk traditions of Northeast Thailand, the psychedelia of 1970s West Africa, along with jazz, funk, and soul. An inventive bandleader with a magnetic presence behind the drums, she brings these influences together with confidence, creativity, and an unmistakably fresh point of view. Her breakthrough album Rammana has earned praise from KEXP and audiences at Winter Jazzfest, with TIDAL calling it “an unforgettable meeting of musical worlds.” Joining us at The Loft with her eclectic ensemble, Salin invites audiences to experience a joyful performance as an emerging artist expanding the boundaries of contemporary jazz.
The Loft |
Wednesday, October 7
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Film: Memorex + Rexsexex y Más This Spanish-language concert documentary chronicles Mexican rock band Zoé's six performances at Mexico City's GNP Stadium, attended by more than 380,000 fans.
Digital Gym Cinema |
Thursday, October 8
| 5:00 PM | Music: Shabaka Shabaka brings his groundbreaking new album, Of The Earth, to San Diego for one unforgettable night. On October 8, FUTURE IS COLOR® Studio Sessions welcomes Shabaka for a special live performance centered on his latest album, Of The Earth. Shabaka is a multi-instrumentalist and composer who came to prominence within the London scene playing bands Sons of Kemet, the Comet is Coming and Shabaka and the Ancestors. At the start of 2024, he announced a hiatus from the saxophone, and since then has been composing material for the various flutes he is engaged in studying. Collaboration and the idea of developmental change being central to artistic practice is the driving force behind Shabaka’s live sets, which are constantly evolving and striving to reflect an up-to-date account of a creative mind in flow. Join us for an evening of with one of the most vital and ever-evolving artists of our time.
Quartyard |
| 6:00 PM | Latin Author Book Fair Join Southwestern College for an inspiring evening celebrating the transformative power of storytelling, education, and cultural representation. Featuring nationally recognized author and mentor Erica Alfaro as moderator, this special event will bring together Latina/o authors from the Rising Latino Authors Mentorship Group for a dynamic conversation on resilience, leadership, higher education, entrepreneurship, and the journey to publication. The evening will also include a vibrant Book Fair featuring more than 25 Latina/o authors, local writers, and Southwestern College alumni. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet authors, purchase signed books, learn from their personal journeys, and connect with mentors and community leaders who are shaping the future through the power of stories.
Southwestern College |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Italian Film Festival: Fuori Fuori is a moving drama about friendship in adversity, female solidarity, and anti-conformism, inspired by the life of one of Italy’s most iconic authors, Goliarda Sapienza. Rome, 1980. After the magnum opus The Art of Joy she has been working on for a decade is rejected by the Italian publishing world, writer Goliarda Sapienza ends up in prison for stealing jewelry, but the encounter with some young inmates turns out to be a life-changing experience. After their release and over the course of a scorching summer, the women continue to meet, and Goliarda forms a deep bond with Roberta, a repeat offender and political activist. A connection no one on the outside can truly understand, but through which Goliarda rediscovers the joy of living and the drive to write again.
In Italian with English subtitles.
A special introduction and post-screening Q&A with Professor Clarissa Clò (San Diego State University).
Museum of Photographic Arts |
Friday, October 9
| NOON | Brazilian Children's Day Celebrate Brazilian Children’s Day with Do Re Tree! Join us for a joyful celebration filled with Brazilian music, movement, Capoeira, storytelling, and Portuguese! Bring the whole family and experience the joy of Brazilian culture together! Free community program — everyone is welcome! Let's play and have fun!
Mira Mesa Library |
| 2:00 PM | Filipino American History Month Festival October is Filipino American History Month, a celebration and recognition of the achievements, contributions, history, culture, and resilience of the Filipino community. This free event will feature Philippine folk dancers, singers, food, and fun for the whole family!
La Jolla/Riford Library |
| 6:00 PM | Fundraiser: La Convivencia Join us for CPMCC's inaugural annual fundraiser and 4 year anniversary celebration! Guests will enjoy a curated artisanal culinary experience, live music, cultural performances, exciting opportunity drawings—including free rental packages by some of San Diego’s most sought-after favorite local DJs. This year, we are celebrating our 4th anniversary with an inaugural annual fundraiser—The Convening: of the Four Directions. Across many traditions, the four directions remind us that all is connected—people, land, history, and future generations. Inspired by Mexihcah teachings, this year's theme reflects the energies of the four sacred directions: the (black) North symbolizing reflection & our ancestors; the (white) West embodying transformation & growth; the (blue) South representing community, creativity & action; and the (red) East fostering new beginnings & understandings. Together, they complete a circle, to remind us that no single path exists in isolation and that our strength comes from gathering in relationship with one another. CPMCC will also host an exhibition and silent auction featuring diverse creations generously donated by our artist community and inspired by this year’s theme of the Four Directions. Artworks will be available for purchase via an online auction.
Barrio Station |
| 6:30 PM | Film: Kuessipan The Alliance Française screens Kuessipan, a French-language Canadian film with English subtitles about two Innu girls growing up in Québec's Côte-Nord and negotiating friendship, identity, tradition and personal aspirations.
French American School Auditorium |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Italian Film Festival: La Grazia As his tenure as President of Italy nears its end, Mariano De Santis faces wrenching decisions-both political and deeply personal. Amid these moral quandaries, he must confront his own conscience and seek guidance from those closest to him, including his confidante and daughter, Dorotea.
In Italian with English subtitles.
A special post-screening Q&A with Beth Accomando of KPBS and Film Geeks San Diego.
Museum of Photographic Arts |
| Film: Persona Ingmar Bergman's 1966 Swedish film follows a stage actor who has stopped speaking and the nurse caring for her at an isolated seaside cottage, where the boundaries between their identities begin to blur.
Digital Gym Cinema |
| 8:00 PM | Comedy: Fil-Am Month of Laughs Come enjoy some amazing laughs with some amazing Filipino Comics for Fil-Am Month! With headliner Rex Navarrete and more !
The Search Bar |
Saturday, October 10
| 11:00 AM | Día de los Muertos Marigolds Help the History Center prepare for Día de los Muertos by contributing to our community ofrenda. Families are invited to create vibrant paper marigolds that will become part of the altar later in the month while learning about the traditions, symbolism, and meaning of this important celebration. Through hands-on art and historical exploration, visitors of all ages can connect with local history and the people who have helped shape our region.
San Diego History Center |
| House of Spain Lawn Program Join us for paella, dancing, and more!
International Cottages |
| Music: Zimbabwe and Bali The Del Mar Library is celebrating 30 years and has invited the Center for World Music to bring music to the festivities. Enjoy a free concert of music from Zimbabwe and Bali and, try your hand at playing instruments from around the world with our Musical Instrument Petting Zoo. 11:00 – 11:45: Mbira performance with Garit Imhoff. Following the presentation, audience members will be invited to learn a song on mbira, which is played by plucking metal tines with the fingers. 12:00 – 12:45: “Wayang Kulit” performance with the Jangkrik Punyah ensemble featuring Geoff Dent. Wayang Kulit features beautiful interlocking melodies played on Balinese gamelan instruments with bronze keys over bamboo resonators. 11:00 – 1:00: Musical Instrument Petting Zoo – a hands-on experience for musicians of all ages.
Del Mar Library |
| Pinstriping Workshop Join us for a hands-on Introduction to Pinstriping Workshop facilitated by Manuel Cisneros. This engaging workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of traditional pinstriping, including proper tool and brush use, paint application, brush control, linework techniques, and time-tested tricks of the trade. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the foundational skills behind creating clean, expressive lines and decorative designs while gaining insight into the patience, practice, and creativity that the art form requires. Through hands-on instruction and practice, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the pin striping process, a greater appreciation for the artistry behind the craft, and increased confidence to continue exploring and creating their own expressive pinstripe artwork.
CPMCC Community Room |
| 1:00 PM | BlacktoberFest Mark it in ink — Blacktoberfest is back Saturday, October 10 at S&S Friendly Ranch, San Diego's oldest Black-owned farm. Live DJ sets, spades, dominoes, line dancing, and a straight-up Black-owned vendor market — your people, all in one field. From the creators of Kinfolk Fest: black like we never left.
S&S Friendly Ranch |
| 2:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| 2:30 PM | Gyotaku Workshop Dive into the world of creativity by learning the basics of Japanese fish printing, a rich art form that involves inked fish pressed against paper. This Japanese tradition is typically printed on rice paper. as accurately as possible, Fisherman exhibited their prized catches. Practice is put into the art of gyotaku as some prints come out sleeker than others. Whether you are fishing or not, participate in the art of gyotaku and print your own fish with simple ink and paper.
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum |
| 5:30 PM | Italian Film Festival: 2026 feSta Join us at our feSta for an exquisite night at the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art and celebrate as we gather to announce the 2026 Ristretto Award winners!
The evening will begin with the screenings and awards, followed by a lively celebration featuring music from the S.T. Cats, food by Zafferano Catering, and a silent auction.
Museum of Photographic Arts |
| Fundraiser: NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner Freedom Fund Dinner! We are excited to announce our National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) San Diego Branch will host its annual Freedom Fund Dinner on Saturday, October 10, 2026, 5:30 PM at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego – Mission Valley, located at 7450 Hazard Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92108. Our theme is “Celebrating 107 Years of Excellence: Honoring the Past & Shaping the Future.” We would greatly appreciate your support of this important event to help us carry out the mission of the NAACP to “ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.” Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most effective civil rights organization. Don't miss out on this special event - mark your calendars now!
DoubleTree Mission Valley |
| 7:00 PM | Music: Nathan Aweau Nathan was born into a musical family, his grandparents could play various instruments as well as performing with a band, his mom a piano player and his father for many years taught music and was a choir director as well as a Polynesian music teacher at various high schools. Nathan’s early years consisted of piano lessons, learning the guitar and ukulele and having the natural ability to sing. From grades seven through twelve his main instrument was the saxophone. In college he performed in the jazz ensemble as a bass player and the wind symphony as a percussionist. By this time his passion for the electric bass made him decide that this would be his main instrument. In 1983, during his college years, he started his professional career accompanying performers such as Gabe Baltazar, Henry Kapono, Loyal Garner and Nohelani Cypriano to name a few. He was a member of the Hoku award winning group, Ka’eo, as well as with the award winning group The Ali’i’s. He also did a 16 year stint with the legendary Don Ho. He’s done various high school and college level seminars, covering subjects from writing, arranging and sequencing to computer music. For a few short years, Nathan was a music teacher at various schools in Hawai’i. He’s even done a project with students from Campbell High School. The students had a chance to see the workings of what goes on in producing a song and recording it. Other than being a stage musician, Nathan has performed on commercials for Windward Mall, Meadow Gold, JCB credit card co., etc. He’s done background music for various T.V. shows for the Travel Channel, and has done music beds and liners for various radio stations.
California Center for the Arts |
| Music: Maná Maná is a Mexican pop rock band formed in 1981. Originally called Sombrero Verde, the current lineup of members is vocalist-guitarist Fher Olvera, drummer Alex González, guitarist Sergio Vallín and bassist Juan Calleros.
North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre |
| 8:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Music: Edgardo Nuñez and Kane Rodriguez Edgardo Nuñez is a leading figure in Regional Mexican music, known for blending traditional sounds with urban styles. Kane Rodriguez brings a fresh voice from Houston, mixing cumbia, banda, and norteño with modern influences. Together, they offer a dynamic concert experience that highlights the evolving landscape of Mexican regional music.
Civic Theatre |
Sunday, October 11
| 10:00 AM | Hello Japan! Class: Japanese Autumn Tradition A perfect starting point for new learners who want both language skills and cultural understanding. Students will learn simple grammar, paired with cultural lessons about food, festivals, manners, and modern life in Japan. By the end of the course, students will feel confident using basic Japanese and more connected to the heart of Japanese culture. October 11th Theme: Japanese Autumn Tradition & “There is / There are” Expressions In this lesson, students will explore Otsukimi (Moon Viewing Festival), a traditional Japanese autumn celebration that honors the beauty of the full moon. Students will read a short story about Otsukimi and learn about cultural traditions such as tsukimi dango (moon-viewing rice dumplings), seasonal decorations, and festival customs. A perfect starting point for new learners who want both language skills and cultural understanding. Students will learn simple grammar, paired with cultural lessons about food, festivals, manners, and modern life in Japan. By the end of the course, students will feel confident using basic Japanese and more connected to the heart of Japanese culture.
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum |
| 11:00 AM | Día de Muertos Vista Día de Muertos Vista is the inaugural city-scale cultural street festival honoring one of Mexico’s most meaningful traditions through remembrance, art, heritage, and community connection. Set to take place on Sunday, October 11, 2026, this landmark event will transform South Santa Fe Avenue in Vista into a vibrant cultural corridor spanning from The Commons Venue and Ascend Coffee Roasters through approximately two city blocks of small businesses, creating the first official Día de Muertos street closure and celebration of its kind in the city.
Ascend Coffee Roasters |
| House of Norway Lawn Program Leif Erikson Day (second weekend in October) Viking music, food, crafts and activities at the lawn by the House of Norway.
International Cottages |
| 11:15 AM | Hello Japan! Class: Moon Viewing Festival Building on the basics, this course takes students deeper into Japanese grammar and sentence structure while developing real conversational fluency. Through dialogue, role-play, and cultural context, learners will move beyond textbook phrases to express ideas and navigate everyday situations with confidence. By the end, students will hold conversations more naturally and connect with Japanese culture on a more meaningful level. October 11 — Otsukimi (Moon Viewing Festival) Theme: Japanese Autumn Traditions Learn about Otsukimi (Moon Viewing Festival) through a short reading and cultural discussion. Students will explore the history and customs of moon viewing, seasonal foods such as tsukimi dango, and the importance of autumn in Japanese culture.
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum |
| 1:00 PM | Exhibit: The Gathering Punjabi-American artist Rupinder Kaloti leads a walkthrough of The Gathering, her exhibition exploring the Punjabi-American immigrant experience, ancestry, family traditions, and connections between Punjab and California.
Oceanside Museum of Art |
| 2:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| 3:00 PM | Masu Workshop Join us for a special evening exploring masu, the traditional Japanese wooden measuring box with a history spanning more than 1,300 years. Masashige Kodama, President & CEO of Kodama Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and founder of Masu Kukan, will join us live via Zoom from Japan to share the story behind this iconic craft — from its ancient origins to his own journey reviving and modernizing the tradition, including his innovative Harinuri glass-coating technique that made masu dishwasher-safe for the first time in the industry's history. After Kodama-san's presentation, participants will roll up their sleeves and make their own hinoki (Japanese cypress) masu cup to take home — a hands-on way to connect with a piece of Japanese heritage and craftsmanship. Whether you're drawn to Japanese culture, woodworking, or simply want to try something new, this program offers a rare chance to learn directly from a master craftsman carrying forward centuries of tradition while shaping its future.
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Film: 964 Pinocchio Shozin Fukui's 1991 Japanese cyberpunk film follows a discarded cybernetic android and an amnesiac homeless woman as they attempt to recover their pasts while fleeing the android's creators.
Digital Gym Cinema |
| 9:15 PM | Film: House Nobuhiko Obayashi's 1977 Japanese cult film House follows a schoolgirl and six classmates whose visit to an aunt's country home becomes a surreal encounter with supernatural forces.
Digital Gym Cinema |
Tuesday, October 13
| 5:30 PM | San Diego International Film Festival Night of the Stars Tribute The San Diego International Film Festival opens its 25th anniversary celebration with the Night of the Stars Tribute, featuring a red carpet reception, awards honoring actors and filmmakers, the FOCUS on Impact Student Art Exhibition, and an after-party.
The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center |
| 6:00 PM | Book Talk: The Serviceberry This three-week community book club discusses Robin Wall Kimmerer's The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, exploring relationships with the natural world, extraction, reciprocity, and Indigenous perspectives on giving and receiving.
WorldBeat Cultural Center |
| 6:30 PM | Book Talk: 50 Years of Even the Rat Was White Fisk University professor Ricardo Guthrie and Mesa College professor and clinical psychologist Judy Sundayo discuss the continuing relevance of Robert Guthrie's 1976 book Even the Rat Was White, which examined racism in American psychology and documented the contributions of Black psychologists.
San Diego Central Library |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| 4:00 PM | Sugar Skulls Craft This all-ages workshop celebrates Día de los Muertos with a hands-on sugar skull craft activity.
North Park Library |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
Thursday, October 15
| 5:00 PM | Talk: PARA/normal Borders Conversation II Filmmaker Sky Hopinka and writer Maggie Nelson discuss how film, writing, memory, language, Indigenous knowledge, and artistic practice shape understandings of place and borders. The program is part of the MexiCali Biennial's PARA/normal Borders project.
UCSD |
| Food: Friuli-Venezia Giulia Join Chefs Tim Kolanko, Wesley Remington, and Tony Coito for a multi-course meal inspired by the flavors of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy, for our October ARTIFACT at Night. Not seeing a reservation time? Email ARTIFACT at Mingei at .
Mingei International Museum |
| 6:00 PM | Paint and Sip Alebrijes Workshop Artist Maira Meza leads a painting workshop on alebrijes, colorful creatures rooted in Mexican folk art, with discussion of their cultural significance and association with Día de los Muertos.
Mujeres Brew House |
| 6:30 PM | Noche de Mole Fundraiser Sherman Heights Community Center opens its annual Día de los Muertos season with regional mole tastings, drinks, live entertainment, and a preview of more than 25 community altars.
Sherman Heights Community Center |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
Friday, October 16
| 11:00 AM | Music: Bereza/Beryoze Zozulka Trio performs a new song cycle drawing on Ukrainian and Yiddish folk traditions from the territory of present-day Ukraine, using songs about plants, birds, and the natural world to explore shared ecological knowledge and cultural history.
UCSD |
| 6:00 PM | Dance: Sacred Movement, Painted Prayers Japanese classical dancer Ichinosuke Umekawa performs Nihon Buyo, followed by curator Meher McArthur's preview of an exhibition on ema, traditional Japanese painted wooden prayer plaques.
Mingei International Museum |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| 7:30 PM | Dance: Roots of Loving Us CONTRA-TIEMPO Activist Dance Theater presents the world premiere of Roots of Loving Us, a contemporary dance and storytelling work exploring adoptees, foster families, chosen families, belonging, and the ways people create family and home.
Epstein Family Amphitheater |
Saturday, October 17
| 10:00 AM | Tohoku Day The Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum's Journeying Japan series explores Tohoku, the northeastern region encompassing Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima, with crafts, workshops, lectures, and a regional stamp rally.
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum |
| 11:00 AM | Galbani Bella Vita Fest This Italian Heritage Month festival features Italian-themed chalk art created live in the streets, Italian food and wine, cooking demonstrations, Italian merchants, and live music.
Little Italy |
| House of Czech and Slovak Republics Lawn Program The House of Czech and Slovak Republics presents two days of Czech and Slovak cultural entertainment, including music and dance, along with traditional pastries, drinks, and heritage items.
International Cottages |
| 2:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Food: Taste of City Heights This culinary walking tour features dishes from locally owned restaurants representing the Asian, Mexican, African, and other culinary traditions found in City Heights.
City Heights University Avenue |
| 8:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
Sunday, October 18
| 10:00 AM | 2026 Guelaguetza Festival San Diego's Guelaguetza celebration presents Oaxacan dance, music, traditional foods and products made in Oaxaca.
Palomar College |
| 11:00 AM | Galbani Bella Vita Fest This Italian Heritage Month festival features Italian-themed chalk art created live in the streets, Italian food and wine, cooking demonstrations, Italian merchants, and live music.
Little Italy |
| House of Czech and Slovak Republics Lawn Program The House of Czech and Slovak Republics presents two days of Czech and Slovak cultural entertainment, including music and dance, along with traditional pastries, drinks, and heritage items.
International Cottages |
| NOON | Tianguis de la Raza Market Centro Cultural de la Raza's monthly community artisan market features local artists and makers, arts and crafts, self-care products, jewelry, live music, children's art workshops, and a community healing clinic.
Centro Cultural de la Raza |
| 2:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
| Tropical Star's 40th Anniversary Celebration Tropical Star Restaurant and Market marks 40 years in San Diego with live music, dancing, food and activities celebrating the cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Tropical Star Restaurant & Specialty Market |
| 7:00 PM | Stage: Topdog/Underdog Broadway director Steve H. Broadnax III returns to the Globe after last season’s thrilling Appropriate to direct an intimate new staging of Suzan-Lori Parks’s Pulitzer Prize–winning modern classic, which The New York Times hailed as the greatest American play of the past 25 years. Brothers Lincoln and Booth hustle for survival through the street con game of three-card monte. Their bond is tested by rivalry, resentment, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. By turns funny, provocative, and charged, Topdog/Underdog charts the razor-thin line between ambition and self-destruction.
The Old Globe |
Monday, October 19
| 6:00 PM | Calavera Mask Workshop This Día de los Muertos workshop provides materials for participants to make a calavera mask that can be carried in the Sherman Heights candlelight procession.
Sherman Heights Community Center |
Tuesday, October 20
| 2:00 PM | Visiting Las Ofrendas More than 25 Día de los Muertos community altars fill the Sherman Heights Community Center while additional front-yard altars appear throughout the surrounding neighborhood for self-guided viewing.
Sherman Heights Community Center |
| 5:00 PM | Talk: Between Political Liberalism and Dictatorship This talk examines the crisis of political liberalism in interwar Greece by analyzing the recurrent intervention of the military in politics as a structural consequence of the failure to establish a durable bourgeois hegemony after 1916, with particular emphasis on the Second Hellenic Republic (1924–1935). It argues that the frequent military interventions in the political scene of the period were not an episodic disruption of an otherwise functioning parliamentary order, but rather conceptualizes the army as a structural political actor within a fragile liberal regime.
UCSD |
| 5:30 PM | Film: Sun Ra Sun Ra: Do The Impossible dives into the groundbreaking work of the visionary jazz musician and Godfather of Afrofuturism From swing to bebop to free jazz, Sun Ra bridged myriad musical styles to form his own avant-garde sound. With his ever-evolving collective, the Arkestra, he stretched the boundaries of jazz and self-produced more than 200 records, in addition to being one of the first Black artists to have his own record label. Remembered today as the “Godfather of Afrofuturism,” Sun Ra weaved ancient Egyptian and interstellar metaphors into a definitive musical and spiritual vision that resonates across generations. Discover the extraordinary life of this poet, philosopher, and musical visionary.
Central Library |
| 6:00 PM | Calavera Mask Workshop This Día de los Muertos workshop provides materials for participants to make a calavera mask that can be carried in the Sherman Heights candlelight procession.
Sherman Heights Community Center |
| 6:30 PM | Film: Panther Veterans in Tanzania Join us at WorldBeat Cultural Center for a special evening with Mama C, Charlotte Hill O’Neal, as she returns to San Diego for a screening of her latest documentary, “Panther Veterans in Tanzania: The Legacy Continues. The film highlights the accomplishments and ongoing work of the United African American Community Center (UAACC) in Tanzania, founded by Charlotte Hill O’Neal and Pete O’Neal, former members of the Black Panther Party, and the community they have helped build through decades of cultural, educational, and grassroots work. The documentary offers a look at their continuing legacy and commitment to Pan-Africanism and community empowerment.
WorldBeat Center |
| 7:30 PM | Book Talk: The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford Rich Milford is dead. At last. We find ourselves in 1920's Oklahoma, just far enough out of Tulsa, just long enough after the Race Massacre of 1921. For as long as anyone can remember, the Milfords have led plentiful lives on the backs of the townspeople of Newville. Now, on the ominous brink of the Great Depression and at the height of Prohibition, Richard Milford was an infamous moonshiner and womanizer who, it seems, finally crossed the wrong person at the wrong time. He's dead and buried with only his women to mourn him, but a question remains: Who killed him, and why? Top suspects are his four "wives," Lally, Sophronia, Georgette, and Vivianne. But as their stories burst to light, the very idea of a true story comes apart before our eyes. In an electric follow-up to her acclaimed debut collection, Nafissa Thompson-Spires once again serves up a brilliant distillation of front-of-mind happenings—think, cults of personality, capitalism run amok in politics, and rampant societal distrust—structured like a stupefying line dance. In her uniquely powerful, humorous manner, Thompson-Spires takes on the interdependent clash of the traditional and the newfangled in this gobsmackingly excellent novel.
Warwick's |
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